Luke 15:30

But as soone as this thy sonne was come, which hath deuoured thy liuing with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calfe.
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan

but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.'
- New American Standard Version (1995)

but when this thy son came, who hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou killedst for him the fatted calf.
- American Standard Version (1901)

But when this your son came, who has been wasting your property with bad women, you put to death the fat young ox for him.
- Basic English Bible

but when this thy son, who has devoured thy substance with harlots, is come, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
- Darby Bible

But as soon as this thy son had come, who hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
- Webster's Bible

but now that this son of yours is come who has eaten up your property among his bad women, you have killed the fat calf for him.'
- Weymouth Bible

But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.'
- World English Bible

But aftir that this thi sone, that hath deuourid his substaunce with horis, cam, thou hast slayn to hym a fat calf.
- Wycliffe Bible

but when thy son -- this one who did devour thy living with harlots -- came, thou didst kill to him the fatted calf.
- Youngs Literal Bible

Wesley's Notes for Luke 15:30

15:28 He was angry, and would not go in - How natural to us is this kind of resentment!

15:29 Lo, so many years do I serve thee - So he was one of the instances mentioned #Lu 15:7|. How admirably therefore does this parable confirm that assertion! Yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends - Perhaps God does not usually give much joy to those who never felt the sorrows of repentance.

15:31 Thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine - This suggests a strong reason against murmuring at the indulgence shown to the greatest of sinners. As the father's receiving the younger son did not cause him to disinherit the elder; so God's receiving notorious sinners will be no loss to those who have always served him; neither will he raise these to a state of glory equal to that of those who have always served him, if they have, upon the whole, made a greater progress in inward as well as outward holiness.

15:32 This thy brother was dead, and is alive - A thousand of these delicate touches in the inspired writings escape an inattentive reader. In #Lu 15:30|, the elder son had unkindly and indecently said, This thy son. The father in his reply mildly reproves him, and tenderly says, This thy brother - Amazing intimation, that the best of men ought to account the worst sinners their brethren still; and should especially remember this relation, when they show any inclination to return. Our Lord in this whole parable shows, not only that the Jews had no cause to murmur at the reception of the Gentiles, (a point which did not at that time so directly fall under consideration,) but that if the Pharisees were indeed as good as they fancied themselves to be, still they had no reason to murmur at the kind treatment of any sincere penitent. Thus does he condemn them, even on their own principles, and so leaves them without excuse. We have in this parable a lively emblem of the condition and behaviour of sinners in their natural state. Thus, when enriched by the bounty of the great common Father, do they ungratefully run from him, #Lu 15:12|. Sensual pleasures are eagerly pursued, till they have squandered away all the grace of God, #Lu 15:13|. And while these continue, not a serious thought of God can find a place in their minds. And even when afflictions come upon them, #Lu 15:14|, still they will make hard shifts before they will let the grace of God, concurring with his providence, persuade them to think of a return, #Lu 15:15|,16. When they see themselves naked, indigent, and undone, then they recover the exercise of their reason, #Lu 15:17|. Then they remember the blessings they have thrown away, and attend to the misery they have incurred. And hereupon they resolve to return to their father, and put the resolution immediately in practice, #Lu 15:18|,19. Behold with wonder and pleasure the gracious reception they find from Divine, injured goodness! When such a prodigal comes to his father, he sees him afar off, #Lu 15:20|. He pities, meets, embraces him, and interrupts his acknowledgments with the tokens of his returning favour, #Lu 15:21|. He arrays him with the robe of a Redeemer's righteousness, with inward and outward holiness; adorns him with all his sanctifying graces, and honours him with the tokens of adopting love, #Lu 15:22|. And all this he does with unutterable delight, in that he who was lost is now found, #Lu 15:23|,24. Let no elder brother murmur at this indulgence, but rather welcome the prodigal back into the family. And let those who have been thus received, wander no more, but emulate the strictest piety of those who for many years have served their heavenly Father, and not transgressed his commandments.